Diplomatic posting for Sat Maharaj’s daughter ?

Tongues are wagging in United National Congress (UNC) circles over a report that the daughter of Maha Sabha Secretary General Sat Maharaj, Vimala Tota-Maharaj, is being considered for a diplomatic post in Canada.

Vimala Tota-Mahara

This has sent shock waves among top officials of the Congress of the People (COP), who want to know why Stephen Kangal, a career diplomat, was blanked for the post.

Kangal, an expert in Maritime Law, served as acting High Commissioner to Canada some years ago. He was in the forefront of the campaign to “axe the tax” when the former People’s National Movement (PNM) administration had passed legislation to raise land and building taxes.

The People’s Partnership (PP) government, of which the COP is a major partner, had promised during the 2010 general election campaign, not to implement the legislation if the party came into Government.

Tota-Maharaj, a senator under the former Basdeo Panday administration, is currently the principal of St Helena Hindu School. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has to give approval for the appointment.